Why are Return Flights to Europe so Expensive Still Folks???

[littletee]

I can't believe it folks, Planes are flying half empty, the world is going through its worst downturn since WW2 and yet Airlines are trying to sting us $2500+ for a return trip to Europe in peak season when infact Jet Fuel is also at 5 year lows too etc......What's up with that, Why?

It's ridiculous, I booked a return flight with Emirates in late 05 for a return flight from Mel to Milan in June for merely $1580 Including Taxes and now they want to charge at least another $1K for that same trip at the same time......No wonder not many people are flying!!!

Are they trying to sting us folks, do you think they'll get the picture soon and a price war will erupt for Melbourne - Europe?

 

[Alanslegal]

Yes there is a GFC right now but you can't just assume planes are 'flying half empty'. Many of the airlines have started cutting the number of flights and seats so this should somehow prop up the prices a little bit.

I guess peak season will still be peak season and the airlines are making good estimate that demand will still be relatively high during those periods.

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

I am in the UK at the moment, flew Emirates MEL-DXB-LHR and it cost $1650 return including taxes, and the flights were about 75% full, so there are some cheap fares to be had.

CX are currently doing round trip LHR-HKG-ADL for £499 all in.

Cheers
DJ737

 

[albatross710]

At the moment pricing seems competitive closer to departure. Being flexible with routings, dates and times will open up price improvements.

 

[Evan]

Yes there is a GFC right now but you can't just assume planes are 'flying half empty'. Many of the airlines have started cutting the number of flights and seats so this should somehow prop up the prices a little bit.

I guess peak season will still be peak season and the airlines are making good estimate that demand will still be relatively high during those periods.

I dont think SIN-MEL has been cut much and QF10 is oversold or completely full tonight. I do see B2 and thats it, no F or J at all. And this normal this year and last.
I would say Europe routes are still doing ok atleast for QF via SIN where i mostly fly, HKG seems a little more lean.
E

 

[PaulC83]

I think one of the biggest difficulties for European trips from Aust is the fact its a two part leg, so really you are subject to the demand of two routes, and if one of those is exceedingly busy, then it is possible for a fare to go up. It is quite possible that demand for tickets from UAE to Milan is quite high in peak season, and certainly I dont think many people in Dubai are feeling the Credit Crunch as much as the rest of the world.

Certainly with QF from my very limited experience, they seemed to ferry a lot more traffic SYD->SIN, SYD->BKK then the total traffic LHR->BKK/SIN (this is down the back of the plane, I have no idea what goes on up front).

 

[laffer]

I just think that Airlines gouge passengers ex australia.

A return flight from the UK to Aus at the moment can be picked up with CX for as a little as £550 (granted you are going into the Oz winter but it is peak season from the UK). £550 is about $1200 AUD. Not bad!

 

[littletee]

Thanks for the info guys.

I'll keep a lookout for sure.

 

[Dave Noble]

I just think that Airlines gouge passengers ex australia.

A return flight from the UK to Aus at the moment can be picked up with CX for as a little as £550 (granted you are going into the Oz winter but it is peak season from the UK). £550 is about $1200 AUD. Not bad!

When it is winter in Oz, such as june, it is not peak season for fares from UK-Oz but is, rather, low season

Even so, the pricing from UK to Oz, does I agree, tend to be better than Oz-UK

e.g. Uk-Oz in premium economy is available at GB1231 on BA and GBP1278 on VS including taxes ( approx $2737 / $2841 ) which seems a lot better value than is offered ex Australia

Dave

 

[JohnK]

I think airlines tend to react to the economic conditions around them slower than most businesses.

"Oh our forward bookings for June, July and August do not look good so we will have a 2 for 1 sale". Ignore single travellers while still trying to charge an arm and a leg for last minute flights. I really do not feel sorry for the airlines at all.

And for anyone that says travel is cheaper today think again as there were some very nice bargains back in the 90's. A friend booked a return flight SYD-ATH with TG a month ago for $2,400+. Airfares should be coming down in price not increasing....

 

[kateh]

I have been trying to find flights to greece in May, and I can't believe how hard it is to find cheap flights. There doesn't seem to be a 'webjet' that works out the cheapest fares from australia to europe. It seems like the option is to go to a travel agent - and miss the net deals. Seems like there is a niche in the market ... is it really a matter of trawling all of the possible routes and airlines manually? Can anyone suggest which routes or cities are generally cheaper? The market seems to be holding on to prices while they can, and the oz dollar doesn't help.

 

[leny]

Plane deliveries for AirAsiaX this month should bring in some nice fares for travel to Europe via KL.

I certainly would be particularly happy if they did go ahead with their planned flights to Prague.

 

[kateh]

cheers lenny I also just checked out skyscanner .. it seems an okay place to start. happy flights all

 

[zan5hin]

I have been trying to find flights to greece in May, and I can't believe how hard it is to find cheap flights.

Personally I use bestflights.com.au as a starting off point for what deals might be going at the moment.

I'm looking at a Lufthansa round the world deal at the moment for about $2300 including taxes that you could do via Asia and America Australian Travel Agent : Best Flights - discount travel - Travel Agent Australia

 

[kateh]

thanks! apologies for misspelling your name before ..

 

[JohnK]

I have been trying to find flights to greece in May, and I can't believe how hard it is to find cheap flights. There doesn't seem to be a 'webjet' that works out the cheapest fares from australia to europe. It seems like the option is to go to a travel agent - and miss the net deals.

Try a few travel agents. You may actually be surprised what sort of deals they can find for you especially travelling in May. I would be looking to travel with SQ, TG, EK and if you are really game GF.

 

[dajop]

It may well be (and too be honest I haven't looked into it) that the best deals to Europe are by purchasing a fare from Australia to xx_ (in Asia or North America) and then an a second fare from xx_ to destination in Europe. There's a good deal on QF/AA to New York at the moment (in another thread), not sure if that could be coupled with a cheap fare to Europe from there.

I did do a couple of random checks in June:
MEL-LHR on QF29 returning on QF30: $2581 AUD

Exactly same flights/days
MEL-HKG return $1027
HKG-LHR return $905 (allowing for a 3% credit card forex fee)
TOTAL: $1932 AUD

Wallah! a $600 saving just for being a bit creative .. ring and get the bookings linked and there you go.

 

[justin23]

The other reason flights are cheaper from Europe is due to competition. Qantas wants Europeans to fly to oz. But they compete with many more closer and cheaper destinations for travellers to choose from.

 

[tuapekastar]

It may well be (and too be honest I haven't looked into it) that the best deals to Europe are by purchasing a fare from Australia to xx_ (in Asia or North America) and then an a second fare from xx_ to destination in Europe. There's a good deal on QF/AA to New York at the moment (in another thread), not sure if that could be coupled with a cheap fare to Europe from there.

I did do a couple of random checks in June:
MEL-LHR on QF29 returning on QF30: $2581 AUD

Exactly same flights/days
MEL-HKG return $1027
HKG-LHR return $905 (allowing for a 3% credit card forex fee)
TOTAL: $1932 AUD

Wallah! a $600 saving just for being a bit creative .. ring and get the bookings linked and there you go.

Any potential pitfalls or other issues with this approach dajop? If not, I'm kicking myself, 'cos just booked stepfather MEL-LHR (via HKG out, and SIN back), and cost around $2500. Ah well, live and learn (and learn is what we do on this board).

Did a quick check (out in March, back in April) after reading your post, and while the breakdowns were different (MEL-HKG more, HKG-LHR less), the total was around the 1900 - 2000 dollar mark.

 

[dajop]

Any potential pitfalls or other issues with this approach dajop? If not, I'm kicking myself, 'cos just booked stepfather MEL-LHR (via HKG out, and SIN back), and cost around $2500.

As long as you have e-ticket printed for both bookings to carry with you I don't see why there would be any issues. Not sure about satisfying the credit card presentation requirements in HKG though. Other than that connecting at HKG (or SIN or BKK) to the same flight is probably one of the lowest risk connections you can ever do ... after all you if there are delays due to late arrival of your initial flight ... it won't matter because it is the connecting flight as well!